Fools in Love Review

Join fifteen bestselling, award-winning, and up-and-coming authors as they reimagine some of the most popular tropes in the romance genre.

Fake relationships. Enemies to lovers. Love triangles and best friends, mistaken identities and missed connections. This collection of genre-bending and original stories celebrates how love always finds a way, featuring powerful flora, a superhero and his nemesis, a fantastical sled race through snow-capped mountains, a golf tournament, the wrong ride-share, and even the end of the world. With stories written by Rebecca Barrow, Ashley Herring Blake, Gloria Chao, Mason Deaver, Sara Farizan, Claire Kann, Malinda Lo, Hannah Moskowitz, Natasha Ngan, Rebecca Podos, Lilliam Rivera, Laura Silverman, Amy Spalding, Rebecca Kim Wells, and Julian Winters this collection is sure to sweep you off your feet.

General Impressions

I requested this book because ever since I read 'I Wish You All The Best' I have become Mason Deaver trash and then I saw Julian Winters and Hannah Moskowitz names and my heart exploded. I HAD to read this book.

'Fools in Love' was QUEER behind my wildest expectations and seeing all these different characters falling in love and living their truth was exhilarating.

Since this is a short story collection written by dozens of authors I'll start by reviewing each story separately and then the book in its entirety at the very end. Also, since short story collections are a great way to be introduced or give authors you only ever heard about a try, I may recommend a full-length novel from the same author or falling in the same trope at the end, just in case you liked the overall vibe of the story or just need to fill a particular craving in your reading plans.

Silver and Gold by Natasha Ngan - 'Snowed In Together'

I'm a fan of short stories so I started this book with very high expectations that only rose when I was greeted by this story. Natasha Ngan is one of the most recognizable names in this book and one I've been curious about for a while so I was really looking forward to being awed by her talent.

Sadly it was clear from the beginning that this was not going to impress me: from the beginning of the story to the chemistry between the characters, to how predictable and easy to overcome the hurdles were to the writing itself, nothing in this story delivered what I expected from it.

I did like some aspects like how light it went on physical description until the halfway point allowing the reader both free reign over what the characters looked like and a chance to address any of their own prejudices, the world-building was interesting even if barely there, touching on some heavier themes very lightly. Above all, this was a love story featuring two women. This being a sapphic story was honestly what made it worth anything for me because if it had been a straight one, there would have been no saving it for me.

Five Stars by Amy Spalding - 'Mistaken Identity'

The second story in this book was a cute slice of life set in the space of a few hours and I liked it a lot more than the last one, maybe because I had never heard of the author before and went into it without any expectations.

Even though 'insta-attraction' is not my favourite trope, there was a lot I liked in this story: the love interest was an Asian girl that did not subscribe to any racial stereotypes, the characters spent most of their time talking and getting to know each other and there were plenty of relatable themes for the reader to sink their teeth in such as the aftermath of break-ups or the anxieties that come with being the new girl at school, making friends, coming out and existing as a proud queer person.

I wouldn't care for this story as it is as a full-length novel but as a short story, it works perfectly with a good balance between plot and romance.

Additionally, this is the second sapphic story in a row, and that is something

Unfortunately, Blobs Do Not Eat Snacks by Rebecca Kim Wells - 'Kissing Under The Influence'

Talk about a trope that might be a bit icky nowadays...but in this case, I think it was handled in an appropriate way or at least a non-triggering way.

This felt like an 'opposites attract' where a Hermione/Penelope mix, the goody-two-shoes, tight-laced characters are forced to partner with the Ron/Shepperd/Luna's of the world to pass their final exam.

It wasn't my favourite tale but the plot and world-building were cohesive enough and I loved how much it reminded me of 'Carry On'.

More importantly, this was the third sapphic story in a row!!!

Edges by Ashley Herring Blake - The Grumpy One And The Soft One

(Fourth! I never thought I would ever read as many sapphic stories in a book that wasn't specifically about wlw relationships and I'm so happy I could cry.)

This was the first story I loved reading.

There was so much depth to these characters, I would read a full-length novel about them. So many important themes were addressed: mental health, loneliness, personal discovery, consent (between girls yeah!), communication,... and while reading about all of those is still a sad novelty and all of those themes were treated with care and respect, what made this story matter so much to me personally was that it showed characters dealing with and facing up to biphobia/bi-erasure when bisexuality itself is still such an underrepresented identity in our culture while also having a conversation about consent and limits between queer teens.

I might be wrong (I was flying through this story) but I only realized that the narrator was a girl near the end of this story and even though I liked that because of all the previously mentioned reasons, a part of me also mourned that this wasn't an m/f pairing because I would have loved to see a young man crying and talking about his feelings without any sense of shame or emasculation and just being bisexual and not having his identity denied for being with a girl. That is of course not a reflection on this story or author (who I will definitely be checking out now) but on the kinds of stories that we are still so rarely given the chance to read and people we get to see represented.

P.s. Hannah Moskowitz, a later contributor to this anthology has a full-length novel called 'Sick Kids in Love' whose main character is a bisexual boy in an m/f pairing where a lot of those themes are addressed if you are curious about it or just need some bi rep in your shelf.

What Makes Us Heroes by Julian Winters - 'Hero vs. Villain'

This was one of the authors that made me request this book. Julian Winters makes the world a softer, better place with his books.

Sir, I would read this as a slow burn with all the feels and miscommunication, Mexican Telenovela style.

This story is set in a world where superheroes and supervillains exist and are treated as celebrities/influencers, permanently under the public eye and managed in order to cater to certain groups of people. That is the case for the main character where being a superhero is a family business.

One of the biggest themes in this story is prejudice, particularly racial, with our narrator being a black teen boy feeling pressured to get back together with his white superhero ex-boyfriend and pick friends with align with his parent's ideologies in order to elevate his family's status. The apprehensions he was already feeling about his future are pulled to the forefront of his mind when he reconnects with a childhood friend, whose family are considered 'villains', and he starts thinking about the life he wants to lead.

This was such a short and sweet story about two young black boys being joyous and happy together and I loved how consent was such a big theme throughout their interactions. I would love to read entire books set in this Universe.

P.S. The Bright Sessions by Lauren Shippen follows super-powered people as they struggle with their powers and identities and are some of the best YA stories I have ever read.

AND by Hannah Moskowitz - 'Love Triangle'

OMG

Omg.

O M G

Ladies, gents and non-binary friends, my expectations for this author and what she would gift us with were high but never in my life I anticipated being awed to this level.

This was my favourite short story and I don't know how to review it without spoiling it so I'll only say this: never in my life, I thought I would see a love story like this not only published anywhere else other than fanfic and Ao3 but actually aimed at teens and written in a respectful and loving way.

She did it. This madwoman actually did it!!! Oh, how I wish I could read more about these characters.

P.S. I can recommend some books that feature some of the same themes but none are YA. If you don't mind more adult/erotic stories Reese Morrison wrote several books featuring all kinds of (spoiler) relationships and if you are feeling like watching a great movie, there's always Professor Marsten and the Wonder Women, which I can't say enough good things about (and is based on real people!).

My Best Friend's Girl by Sara Farizan - 'Best Friend's Girlfriend'

Another story where all I felt could be summarized by the question: can I have an entire series set in this universe? Pretty Please?

Picture a young superman, only this story focuses on his normal best friend who is in love with his girlfriend, who he keeps pushing aside in order to fight crime.

I don't know if it's canon but while reading it, I kept imagining the best friend as a Muslim girl and, that is canon for me now.

This story features communication, friendship, crushes and prioritising all kinds of relationships and self-love over only romantic ones and I loved seeing those ideas represented in a story aimed at younger readers. Also, featured friends that communicated and respected each other enough to survive the discomfort of breakups and new relationships

Additionally, I need to know Galaxy Girl's secret identity.

(Fairy)like Attracts Like by Claire Kann - 'Mutual Pining'

Two girls with secrets work in a fairy themed park, bringing joy and magic to children's lives.

This story was so good and full of self-love, plus-sized positivity, black history and nerd culture. And since we are talking about fandom culture, thank you Claire Kann for calling out all the ways that pop culture, merchandise and makeup companies ignore anyone that is not a white size zero or straight white bro.

Another lovely sapphic story.

P.s Not fantasy, but if you loved these themes, try Love is a Revolution by Renee Watson.

These Strings by Lilliam Rivera - 'Sibling's Hot Best Friend'

This one was a classic trope, only now much better, because it's no longer white after white couples. I did like the romance but honestly, for me, the romantic aspect was secondary to the generational trauma, Latinx rep and ingrained misogyny the main character dealt with throughout this story.

I loved seeing a young girl (and boy even if his plight is in the background) learning to stand up for their dreams and refuse to be sidelined or weighted down by family expectations and traumas.

This was another short story that would make a great book, a great anything because this is a story that needs to be told to all kinds of young people.

The Passover Date by Laura Silverman - 'Fake Dating'

This was another story in which the romantic trope took a secondary plan to the protagonists other relationships and situations. The couple was cute, don't get me wrong but I was more drawn in by all the Jewish rep and seeing a religious holiday being about sharing one's culture and joy rather than forcing someone to adhere to all kinds of exclusionist rules that force people to cut parts of themselves.

This story portrays both the joy of community but also shows how something so happy as a family celebration can become stressful and an imposition when people are expected to conform and punished when they don't.

Oh, I forgot, there's a height difference people!

P.S: if you want to read more books with Jewish rep, anything Becky Albertalli will really meet this stories overall vibe. Sicks Kids in Love and anything Reese Morrison (for more adult stories) are also great.

BLOOM by Rebecca Barrow - 'Love Transcends Space-Time'

Can I please have this as a five hundred page novel followed by the movie adaptation?

I never read/seen "The Time Traveller's Wife" but I think this story runs in the same vein, only SAPPHIC! (I'm seriously in love with this book.)

This story started in a completely different place from where you think it will and that kind of unpredictability maintained itself throughout, the world-building was awesome and unique, and even though the romance was fast, it really worked for me. I consider this hard cottagecore and I loved it.

P.S Time Travel fanatic? I recommend the movie About Time and the third Harry Potter (if you can enjoy it knowing the author's a TERF) and perhaps the book/movie The Time Traveler's Wife (I haven't watched that one yet).

Teed Up by Gloria Chao - 'Oblivious to Lovers'

This was one of the most hard-hitting and necessary stories not only in this book but that I ever read. Often, when I finish a great short story I wish I had the chance to spend more time with the characters because I liked them so much and while that happened here as well (I would read/binge-watch this as a trilogy), this short story was so well crafted that it is perfect as it is as well.

Teed Up follows a teen gold prodigy who has to contend with her immigrant parent's pressure to succeed to win enough awards and money to start paying back her parents for all the money and sacrifices they made in order to afford her training.

While this is a story about a girl realizing that she has to take the reigns of her own life, it is also a story about parental abuse, culture clash, first love, mental health, immigrant culture, sexism and racism in sports and generational pressure and trauma. It is also a wake-up call for the way athletes, particularly PoC and PoC girls/women are treated when they are under the limelight.

P.s this reminded me of 'To All the Boys I Loved Before' when it came to romance. Even though they are completely both books feature an Asian protagonist girl dating a white guy written by an Asian author.

Boys Noise by Mason Deaver - 'Only One Bed at the Inn'

This was the reason I requested this book - no one writes romance the way Mason Deaver writes romance.

Anyone that follows the author online will know without a shadow of a doubt that this story comes straight from their heart and the ocean of knowledge they have about how some of our favourite artists are treated by the teams that should protect them or the mental cost of being famous has on them.

Even though this is a world that the reader (probably) knows nothing about, the entire story just felt so natural and flowed so well. I really cared for these characters and how sweet and naturally their relationship started as and how it progressed. From the height difference to the cuddling, to hugs, this was sweet as chocolate and I can barely wait for the chance to get my hands on the next Mason Deaver book.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Malinda Lo - 'Secret Royalty'

I do love a good secret royalty romance so I went into this hoping to be amazed. To my surprise, not by the romance (even though that part was cool) but by all the Chinese culture imbued in every part of this story.

The world-building was beautiful and so complex and I have no doubt the author could write a full-length novel without much effort but this also world perfectly as a short story.

P.s. I recommend the Aurora Rising series and Winter's Orbit if you want more in this YA space romance wave.

Disaster by Rebecca Podos - 'Second Chance Romance'

This story grabbed from the first page and didn't let me go until the end.

As if the impending end of the world was not enough, two ex-girlfriends are forced to spend their last day on earth together and forced to confront each other about their relationship and how it ended.

I really cared for these characters and I found the story and worldbuilding really well crafted, dealing with themes such as mass panic and hysteria in the overall plot but communication, identity crisis, bi-erasure, fear of coming out and how confusing being queer can be when you don't know yourself enough to know how to identify but are already dealing with the discrimination.

P.s Sadly, there are only too many upcoming stories about teenagers dealing with the end of the world but I particularly liked The Forevers and Things to do Before the end of the World.

Conclusions

Even though I didn't love every single story in this collection, I loved that this book exists and I'll treasure so many of these stories. We had so much representation both on page and author wise and that made this book so rich and comforting at the same time.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Running Press for gifting me this DRC.

Rating: 5/5